Sailor of the Year- Yachting NZ announce Excellence Awards nominees

by Jodie Bakewell-White on 16 Oct 2014 Yachting New Zealand is pleased to announce a list of awardees set to be recognised at the 2014 Volvo Yachting Excellence Awards on Friday 21 November in Auckland.

The top honour of ‘House of Travel Sailor of the Year’ is New Zealand’s highest recognition within the sport of sailing; it is presented annually and dates back to 1963. The winner, to be named on Awards night, will join a long list of highly accomplished kiwi sailors.

Contribution and service in the club, regional and national sphere as well as achievement at youth level are also recognised at the Volvo Yachting Excellence Awards.

Peter Montgomery is Master of Ceremonies, ensuring this year’s presentation ceremony will be a fabulous celebration of the year of sailing. Tickets are on sale now.

Winners of the following Awards will be announced on the night:

House of Travel Sailor of the Year
Volvo Young Sailor of the Year
Comworth Coach of the Year
Isotak Official of the Year
Aon Emerging Talent Award
Yachting New Zealand President’s Award supported by Fuji Xerox

Winners of the 2014 Performance Awards, Youth Performance Awards, Service Awards and Cruising Award have been announced and will be presented at next month’s ceremony.

Yachting New Zealand Performance Awards

Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie – 2014 Women’s 470 World Championship Silver medallists
(RNZYS, Takapuna Boating Club)
Mark Bond – Winner of the Stewart 34 Championships
(RNZYS)
Peter Burling and Blair Tuke – 2014 49er World and European Champions
(Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club, Kerikeri Cruising Club)
Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders – 2014 Nacra World Championships fifth place
(Murrays Bay Sailing Club, Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club)
Josh Junior- 2014 Finn World Championships fifth place
(Worser Bay Boating Club)
Scott Leith – 2013 World Apprentice Master Laser Champion
(Murrays Bay Sailing Club)
Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech – Consistent podium finishes in the 49erFX class
(Murrays Bay Sailing Club, Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club)
Sam Meech – 2014 Laser World Championship ninth place
(Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club)
Andrew Murdoch - 2014 Finn World Championships sixth place
(Kerikeri Cruising Club)
Waka Racing – Winners of the 2013 Monsoon Cup and third overall in the 2013 Alpari World Match Racing Tour
(RNZYS - Phil Robertson, Nick Catley, Garth Ellingham, James Willliamson and Adam Martin)

Yachting New Zealand Service Awards

Shirley Closey (Murrays Bay Sailing Club)
Dean Coleman (Wakatere Boating Club)
Dr Rob Ebert (Hamilton Yacht Club)
John Grant (Russell Boating Club)
Martin Hannon (RNZYS)
Margaret Harvey (Richmond Yacht Club)
Gay Noyer (Sandspit Yacht Club and NZTSA)
Alan Sefton (RNZYS)
Murray Walls (Waimakariri Sailing & Powerboat Club)

Yachting New Zealand Youth Performance Awards

Sam Barnett and Zak Merton – International results in the 420 class
(Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club)
Abigail Goodwin and Olivia Mackay – Consistent podium finishes in the 420 class
(Napier Sailing Club)
Patrick Haybittle – 2014 RYA British Youth National Championship seventh place
(Murrays Bay Sailing Club)
Trent Rippey – 2014 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships eighth place (Boy’s Laser Radial)
(Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club)
Jack Rogers and Micah Wilkinson – International results in the 29er and SL16 classes
(Murrays Bay Sailing Club)
Markus Somerville and Isaac McHardie – 2014 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships Bronze Medal (29er skiff)
(Wakatere Boating Club)
Kate Stewart – Winner of the 2014 Tauranga Cup
(Wakatere Boating Club)

Yachting New Zealand Cruising Awards

Tom and Vicky Jackson (Tasman Bay Cruising Club)
Jim and Karin Lott (RNZYS)